Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Forty Three  “The softest thing in the universeOvercomes the hardest thing in the universe.That without substance can enter where there is no room.Hence I know the value of non-action.  Teaching without words and work without doingAre understood by very few.” This is deep and profound. The hardest, loudest and most active things and people won’t even see or hear the still, soft and quiet, who are able to work under the radar. Not doing something is also doing something and the results often make people think that they did it by themselves, when … Continue reading The Softest Thing In The Universe

Explanation Of Tao Te Ching Part Forty One  “The wise student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently.The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again.The foolish student hears of the Tao and laughs aloud.If there were no laughter, the Tao would not be what it is.  Hence it is said:The bright path seems dim;Going forward seems like retreat;The easy way seems hard;The highest Virtue seems empty;Great purity seems sullied;A wealth of Virtue seems inadequate;The strength of Virtue seems frail;Real Virtue seems unreal;The perfect square has no corners;Great talents ripen late;The highest notes are … Continue reading When A Student Hears The Tao

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Eight “A truly good man is not aware of his goodness,And is therefore good.A foolish man tries to be good,And is therefore not good.  A truly good man does nothing,Yet leaves nothing undone.A foolish man is always doing,Yet much remains to be done.  When a truly kind man does something, he leaves nothing undone.When a just man does something, he leaves a great deal to be done.When a disciplinarian does something and no one responds,He rolls up his sleeves in an attempt to enforce order.  Therefore when Tao is lost, there is … Continue reading A Good Man Doesn’t Know He’s Good

Explanation Of Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Seven  “Tao abides in non-action,Yet nothing is left undone.If kings and lords observed this,The ten thousand things would develop naturally.If they still desired to act,They would return to the simplicity of formless substance.Without form there is no desire.Without desire there is tranquility.And in this way all things would be at peace.” The idea that if we understand the way of nature we can develop the idea of not contradicting it. If our leaders understood this and governed in a way that harmonised with the ‘way’ and allowed everything to ‘unfold’ with the lightest … Continue reading Tao Abides In Non Action

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Six “That which shrinksMust first expand.That which failsMust first be strong.That which is cast downMust first be raised.Before receivingThere must be giving.  This is called perception of the nature of things.” One cannot exist without its opposite and it’s the nature of the universe to pass from one to the other. When we can see this working we can see its true nature. “Soft and weak overcome hard and strong.  Fish cannot leave deep waters,And a country’s weapons should not be displayed.” The power of softness and apparent weakness can then be … Continue reading That Which Shrinks Must First Expand